Gas compressor valves



Nov. 26, 1963 R. w. AYLING 3,112,064'

GAS COMPRESSOR VALVES Filed Nov. 1, 1960 s sheets-shea 1 Nov. 26, 1963R. w. AYLING GAS COMPRESSOR VALVES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. l, 1960Nov. 26, 1963 R. w. AYLING 3,112,064

GAS COMPRESSOR VALVES Filed Nov. 1, 1960 .'5 Sheets-Sheet 3 UnitedStates Patent O 3,112,064 GAS COMPRESSOR VALVES Robert W. Ayiing,Staunton, Va., assigner to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, EastPittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Nov. 1, 1960, Ser.No. 66,454 3 Claims. (Cl. 23S-231) This invention relates to gascompressors, and relates more particularly to suction and dischargevalves for gas compressors.

Refrigerant compressors of the reciprocating piston type usually havesuction an-d discharge valves consisting of reeds of spring metal. Priorvalves of this type have had the disadvantages that valve stress atmaximum lift was excessive, severe impacts of the valves on their seatsoccurred, and rubbing wear occurred between the valves and their seats.

This invention overcomes the disadvantages of such prior valves byforming valves as wheel-like discs of spring metal, having spokesextending radially inwardly from annular outer portions towards butspaced apart at the centers of the discs. The inner ends of the spokesare retained but not clamped so that they can bend freely when theannular portions of the discs move towards and from valve plates. Thespokes provide the springing and return the valves to their seatspromptly. By not clamping the spokes, valve ilexibility and higher liftsresult. Spoke stress is limited by contoured stops in the case of thedischarge Ivalves, and by stops cut in the tops of the cylinders in thecase of the suction valves.

An object of this invention is to increase the efficiencies of reed typevalves of gas compressors.

Another object of this invention is to increase the lives of reed typevalves of gas compressors.

Another object of this invention is to increase the lifts of reed typevalves of Igas compressors.

This invention will now be described with reference to the annexeddrawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary view, in section, of a refrigerant compressorembodying this invention, a suction valve being shown closed, and adischarge valve being shown open;

FlG. 2 is an enlarged, yfragmentary section of the valve assembly ofFIG. 1, the suction valve being shown open, and the discharge Valvebeing shown closed;

FIG. 3 is a section along the lines 3 3 of FIG. 1, with broken awayportions;

,. FiG. 4 is a section along the lines 4-4 of FIG. 1,

with broken away portions, and

FIG. 5 is an exploded, perspective view of the valve assembly of FIGS.l-4.

A refrigerant compressor 1@ has a piston 11 in a `cylinder 12, thelatter having a wall 13 around a bore 14 in which the piston 11reciprocates. A suction gas passage 15 extends vertically around thewall 13. The piston 11 has a central recess 16 in the top of its headfor clearing the head end of a rivet 17 which serves to `clamp the valveassembly as will be described later.

A suctio'n valve 18 shaped as shown by FIG. 5 as a generally circulardisc of spring metal having an annular outer portion 19 with fourinwardly extending, radial spokes 26 the inner ends of which are spacedapart at the center of the valve 1S. The valve 13 has eight, equallyspaced-apart tabs 21 which extend radially outward from the outer edgeof its outer portion `19 into a recess 22 in the inner side of the topof the wall 13. The recess 22 has a `fiat bottom which serves as a stopfor the tabs 21 when the valve 18 is unseated as shown by FIG. 2 duringthe suction strokes of the piston 11. The valve 1S has Patented Nov. 26,1.963

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open spaces 3S between its spokes 2i) and its outer portion 19, and asuction valve guide 23 has clover-leaf-like portions 24 in the spaces3S, and has slots 2S between the portions 2d in which the spokes 20extend. The slots 25 are formed complemental to the inner ends of thespokes, and their edges are spaced slightly from the edges of the spokesfor preventing any appreciable side movements of the spokes. The guide23 is slightly thicker than the valve 18.

A circular, suction valve plate 26 is seated on top of the wall 13 withits outer portion overlapping the recess 22. The plate 26 has eight,outer, equally spaced-apart slots 27, and has four, inner, equallyspaced-apart discharge slots 28, the sides of the slots being curved incircular arcs concentric with the plate 26. The slots 27 are suctionslots and extend over the outer portion of the suction valve 18 inwardlyof its tabs 21, and are covered by the outer portion of the valve 18when it is seated during the discharge strokes of the piston 11 as shownby FIG. 1. A suction gas passage 29 extends around the plate 26 abovethe suction gas passage 15. The discharge slots 2S extend over thespaces 26 in 'the Valve 1S.

A circular intermediate plate 30 is seated on the plate 26, and has anannular inner portion 31 containing four, equally spaced-apart slots 32having sides formed in circular arcs concentric with the plate 20, whichslots are discharge slots and extend over and in alignment with thedischarge slots 2S in the plate 26. The plate 3() has an annular outerportion 33 connected to its inner portion 31 by radial struts 34, withopen spaces 35 between the struts 34 and the inner and outer portions 31and 33 respectively. The spaces 3S are over the suction slots in theplate 26. Radial tabs 36 extend 'from the outer portion 33 towards butterminate short of the inner portion 33. The tabs 36 rest on .theportion of the plate 26 between its outer slots 27 and its outer edge.The struts 3ftextend over the plate 26 between its slots 27.

Another intermediate plate 4t), similar to the plate 39, is seated onthe plate 3i?, and has an annular inner portion 41 containing four,equally spaced-apart, discharge slots 42 having sides formed inIcircular arcs concentric with the plate 4G, which slots are over and inalignment with the discharge slots 32 in the plate 39. The plate 4t) hasan annular outer portion 43 connected to its inner portion -41 by radialstru-ts 44, with open spaces 45 between the struts d4 and the inner andouter portions 41 and 43 respectively. The spaces 4S are over the spaces35 in the plate 30. Radial tabs 46 extend from the outer portion i3towards but terminating short of the inner portion 41. The -tabs 46 reston the tabs 36 of the plate 3th. The struts 44 extend over the struts 34of the plate 30. The plate 4t) has a curved recess in its edge in whichis fitted a seal ring 48.

A discharge valve plate Si? is seated on the plate di), and hasspaced-apart slots 51 which have sides curved in circular arcsconcentricwith the plate 56 which is cincular. The slots 5d aredischarge slots and extend over and in alignment with the dischargeslots 42 in the plate 40.

A discharge valve guide 611 is seated on the plate 50. A dis-chargevalve 61 extends around the guide 6G. The vaive 61 is a circular disc ofspring metal having an annuiar outer portion 62 with four radial spokes63 which `extend from the outer portion 62 towards but terminate shortof the center of the valve 611. The guide 611 has four clover-leatdikeportions 65 which extend within spaces 66 in the Valve 61 between itsspokes 63 and its outer portion 62. The guide portions 65 have radialpassages 67 therebetween which are shaped complemental to the spokes 63and within which the spokes 63 extend. The edges of the passages 67 arespaced slightly from the edges of the spokes 63 for preventing anyappreciable side movements of the spokes 63. The peripheral portion 62 3of the valve 61 extends over the discharge slots 51 in the plate 5i).The guide 60 is slightly thicker than the valve 61.

A circular, discharge valve stop plate 70 has a central 'portion ofmaximum thickness which is seated on the ,guide 6i). The plate 70 haseight, outer, equally spaced- `apart slots 71, the sides of which arecurved in circular slots concentric with the plate 70, and which arelocated -above spaces 72 between the plates 50 and 70 beyond the outeredge of the discharge valve 61. The plate '70 has four inner, equallyspaced-apart slots 74, the sides of which are curved in circular arcsconcentric with the plate 70. The plate 70 decreases in thickness fromits central portion to the slots 74 for providing space between theouter portions of the plates 50 and 7i) for the outer portion of thevalve 61 to move when it is unseated as shown by FIG. l.

The plates 26, 3), 40 and 5) are brazed together to form a single valveplate, and the remainder of the valve assembly consisting of the suctionvalve guide 23, the suction valve 18, the discharge valve guide 6?, thedischarge valve 61, and the discharge valve stop plate 70 is assembledto this single valve plate, the rivet 16 clamping the guides 23 and 6()and the plate 7? to this single valve plate. Since the guides arethicker than the valves, the inner ends of the spokes of the latter arenot clamped 'to the assembly. Due to the spokes not being clamped andnot being joined at their inner ends, the valves have more exibility andhigher lifts without excessive stress than prior valves of the reedtype.

A spring guide sleeve S0 has a lower flanged portion $1 in contact withthe upper and outer sides of the outer portion of the plate 70, and hasspaced-apart, vertically extending tabs 83 around which extend the lowerportion of a coiled spring 84, the lower end of which contacts theflanged lower portion 81 of the sleeve, and the upper end of whichcontacts the inner surface of head 86 of the cylinder 12. The spring 84is compressed when the head 86 is clamped to the cylinder 12 by theusual bolts which are not shown, and hold the valve assembly against thetop of the cylinder wall 13.

Operation In operation, on the compression strokes of the piston 11 asshown by FIG. 1, the outer portion 62 of the discharge valve 61 islifted by the compressed gas which flows from the top of the cylinderbore 14 through the slots 2S, 32, 42 and 51 against the under side ofthe outer portion 62 of the valve 61. The discharge gas passing 4thelifted outer portion of the discharge valve passes into the space 72between the plates 50 and 70, and from the space 72 through the slots 71and 74 into discharge gas chamber 90 within the cylinder head, and fromthe chamber 9G through the usual discharge gas outlet -which is notshown.

On the suction strokes of the piston 11 as shown by FG. 2, the outerportion 19 of the suction valve 18 is pulled down by the suctionv untilthe outer tabs 21 of the valve 18 contact the bottom of the recess 22 inthe top of the cylinder wall 13. Suction gas is drawn through thesuction passages 15 and 2.9, spaces 3S and 45 in the plates 330 and 4t)respectively, and slots 27 in the plate 26, :through the space betweenthe bottom of the plate 26 :and the unseated outer portion 19 of thevalve 1S, and through the spaces 38 between the spokes 20 of the valve18 into the cylinder bore above the piston 11.

What is claimed is:

k1. A valve assembly for a gas compressor comprising a `generallycircular disc of spring metal having an annular outer portion with aplurality of spaced-apart spoke portions extending rom said annularportion radially towards but terminating short of the center of saiddisc, a guide disc having a central portion between the inner ends ofsaid spoke portions and having outer portions extending `between 4theOuter portions of said spoke portions, said '4 outer portions of saidguide disc forming therebetween slots having edges which are spacedslightly from thc edges of said spoke portions, said guide disc beingthicker than said iirst mentioned disc, a valve plate having a pluralityof spaced-apart openings arranged in a circle aligned with said annularportion so as to be closed by said annular portion, and means extendingthrough the centers of said discs and plate for clamping said guide discto said plate.

2. A valve assembly for a gas compressor comprising a valve plate havinga circular outer portion and having a circular inner portion concentricwith said outer portion and having a smaller diameter than said outerportion, a plurality of spaced-apart openings extending through saidinner portion and arranged in a circle concentric with said plate,passage means in said outer portion connecting said openings with thespace around said inner portion, a valve dise at the inner side of saidinner portion, said disc having an annular portion covering saidopenings and having a plurality of spaced-apart spoke portions extendingfrom said annular portion radially towards but terminating short of thecenter of said disc, a valve guide disc having a central portion betweenthe inner ends of said spoke portions and having outer portions betweenthe outer portions of said spoke portions, said outer portions of saidguide disc forming therebetween slots having edges spaced slightly fromthe edges of said spoke portions, said guide disc being thicker thansaid valve disc, and means clamping said guide disc to said plate.

3. ln a gas compressor having a wall around a cyliner rbore and havingan annular passage around said wall for connection to the suction sideof said compressor, the combination therewith of a circular valve platehaving an inner portion of reduced diameter seated on said wall, saidinner portion terminating short of said passage, the outer portion ofsaid plate extending across said passage, said inner portion hav-ing afirst plurality of spacedapart openings extending therethrough andarranged in a rst circle concentric with said plate, said outer portionhaving passage means connecting said openings with said annular passage,a suction valve disc at the inner side of said inner portion, said dischaving an annular outer portion covering said openings and having aplurality of spaced-apart spoke portions extending radially towards butspaced from the center of said disc, a suction guide valve disc having acentral portion between the inner ends of said spoke portions and havingouter portions between the outer portions of said spoke portions, saidouter portions of said guide disc forming therebetween slots havingedges which are spaced slightly from the edges of said spoke portions,said guide disc being thicker than said valve disc, said plates having asecond plurality of openings extending therethrough and arranged in acircle concentric with said plate, said last mentioned circle having asmaller diameter than said irst circle, a discharge valve disc having aninner side at the outer side of said plate, said discharge valve dischaving an annular outer portion covering said openings of said secondplurality and having spoke portions extending from its said annularportion radially towards but spaced from the center of said dischargevalve disc, a discharge valve guide disc having a central portionbetween the inner ends of said spoke portions of said discharge valvedisc and having outer portions between the outer portions of saiddischarge valve disc, said outer portions of said discharge valve guidedisc forming therebetween slots which have edges which are slightlyspaced from the edges of said spoke portions of said discharge valvedisc, said discharge valve lguide disc being thicker than said dischargevalve `disc, a circular discharge valve stop plate concentric with andhaving the same diameter as the outer portion of said valve plate, saidstop plate having a central portion contacting said central portion ofsaid discharge valve guide disc and having an outwardly tapered outer 5pertion, said stop plate having a plurality off spacedapart discharge4gas openings, and means extending through the centers of said discs andplates for clamping said valve guide discs to said plates.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS793,214 Neuhaus Iune 27, 1905 6 Fairhurst Sept. 7, 1915 Seligman Oct. 5,1954 Muckley et al. May 6, 1958 Gerteis May 3, 1960 Frank et al. July17, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Aug. 15, 1929 Switzerland Mar.16, 1937

1. A VALVE ASSEMBLY FOR A GAS COMPRESSOR COMPRISING A GENERALLY CIRCULAR DISC OF SPRING METAL HAVING AN ANNULAR OUTER PORTION WITH A PLURALITY OF SPACED-APART SPOKE PORTIONS EXTENDING FROM SAID ANNULAR PORTION RADIALLY TOWARDS BUT TERMINATING SHORT OF THE CENTER OF SAID DISC A GUIDE DISC HAVING A CENTRAL PORTION BETWEEN THE INNER ENDS OF SAID SPOKE PORTIONS AND HAVING OUTER PORTIONS EXTENDING BETWEEN THE OUTER PORTIONS OF SAID SPOKE PORTIONS, SAID OUTER PORTIONS OF SAID GUIDE DISC FORMING THEREBETWEEN SLOTS HAVING EDGES WHICH ARE SPACED SLIGHTLY FROM THE EDGES OF SAID SPOKE PORTIONS, SAID GUIDE DISC BEING THICKER THAN SAID FIRST MENTIONED DISC, A VALVE PLATE HAVING A PLURALITY OF SPACED-APART OPENINGS ARRANGED IN A CIRCLE ALIGNED WITH SAID ANNULAR PORTION SO AS TO BE CLOSED BY SAID ANNULAR PORTION, AND MEANS EXTENDING THROUGH THE CENTERS OF SAID DISCS AND PLATE FOR CLAMPING SAID GUIDE DISC TO SAID PLATE. 